Hastings High School and Explore The Trades
According to CareerForce, a career exploration and job research resource operated by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, the state’s construction industry has seen a 23.1% employment growth rate over the last decade, making it one of the largest and fastest growing in Minnesota. However, in 2024, it faced nearly 5,000 vacancies, and professionals in the field are now in high demand—and that’s predicted to remain so into the future.
While it’s expected that some 10,000 construction jobs will be added through 2032, companies in the home building industry are well-positioned to help address the skilled trades labor shortage. Maddy Sorenson, project coordinator at Explore The Trades (a Bloomington nonprofit that helps young people learn about and pursue careers in the trades), notes that the lift doesn’t have to be massive to make an impact.
“The responsibility of the industry doesn’t mean every business does everything,” she says. “It means that every business does something.” For companies already short-staffed or unsure how to begin supporting and developing training opportunities, start with small, consistent actions that fit your business, Sorenson says. This could look like building a relationship with your local career or technical education program and attending a career day, offering a facility tour, and/or providing a job shadow.
Keep It Local
Bonfe
While Explore The Trades provides resources for job seekers and employers throughout the U.S., Sorenson says “one of the most important mindset shifts is recognizing that your talent pipeline starts in your own backyard. The students in your local schools today are your future technicians, installers, and leaders.”
Home service provider Bonfe engages with people in the Twin Cities who are interested in the trades through its own built-in programs, as well as community partnerships with Explore The Trades and other organizations. This strategy not only helps build awareness about the opportunities in trades but also is an example of how professionals in other trade fields, like building and construction, can build their own programs or deepen community partnerships. “Ultimately, let’s get as many trade workers in the pipeline as possible,” says Bonfe Human Resources Manager Andy Nelson.
For Bonfe, these engagement opportunities include:
- Bonfe’s “Learn & Earn” program introduces people interested in being an HVAC service tech and trains them on how to use their soft skills to provide service to customers, learn the ins and outs of the trade, and experience firsthand service calls.
- The field support role is a strategic entry-level position where new hires experience different trades (plumbing, electrical, HVAC) to see what genuinely interests them before committing to a long-term apprenticeship. They work alongside and assist technicians.
- School and community outreach by engaging with technical colleges and high schools in the Twin Cities metro area at job fairs, as guest speakers, and through advisory board participation.
Always-On Engagement
For businesses hesitant that training people could become a sunk cost, Nelson advises that well-designed, supportive programs can leave a lasting impression on trainees, motivating them to stay on after training or an apprenticeship is complete. The companies making the most progress in filling their employment needs aren’t waiting until they have an immediate hiring need.
“They are consistently investing in awareness, relationships, and exposure,” Sorenson explains.
Over time, that steady presence can build trust among those early in their career, keep your company top of mind, and develop a strong pipeline for people who understand the role that trades serve to strengthen both the local economy and community members.
State Resources
Looking to engage with the next generation of skilled trade workers but unsure where to start? The state offers several programs.
- Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) CTE Work-Based Learning: A central hub for information on how to facilitate experiential learning opportunities.
- MDE Trade and Industry Webpage: Offers guidance on career exploration programs and how to engage with local districts and charter schools.
- DEED High School Technical Education Pathways and Outcomes Tool: Provides data-driven insights into career and technical education pathways.
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